The Billion Dollar Code and its good news/bad news outcomes

In a series of decisions over the past 40 years, the Supreme Court has radically expanded constitutional rights for corporations. Perhaps its most impactful decision on the matter was in the 2010 Citizens United v. FEC ruling, which in a 5-4 decision granted corporations First Amendment rights, ruling that corporate political spending was protected speech. The effects of this decision have unleashed a wave of consequences for our republic, most notably an erosion of the public’s faith in the integrity of our democracy, a lack of policy outcomes that align with the views of most Americans, and a deluge of big money that has drowned our political system.

The Court’s ruling was based on its assertion that corporations deserve these constitutional protections because they are nothing more than assemblies of people. However, corporations in our society function as distinct entities from the individuals that comprise them, and aren’t beholden to represent the opinions of those individuals. What’s more, with their First Amendment “rights” consecrated by the Supreme Court, corporations have extended these constitutional rights in other dubious ways.

Most Americans agree that corporations are not people. Throughout our history, citizens have come together to overrule the Supreme Court—for example when it upheld slavery or denied women’s right to vote. Today, we need an amendment again to establish that constitutional rights are for people, not corporations.